How to measure pressure with an electronic and mechanical tonometer correctly

Everyone should know how to measure blood pressure, because this is a very important procedure, especially for those who often have high or low blood pressure. Based on the measurement results, it is possible to determine the activity of the cardiovascular system.

Since it is not difficult to measure pressure with a hand-held tonometer or an electronic one, this procedure can be carried out by each person independently, without special medical education. High blood pressure is hypertension, low - hypotension.

In order to obtain reliable blood pressure measurements, you must comply with some of the requirements that are mandatory for the procedure. If the requirements are not followed, then the indicators are likely to be unreliable, which can lead to serious consequences. Such as taking unnecessary drugs that can endanger life.

Before you measure pressure and provide yourself with reliable indicators, several requirements should be met:

1. Do not take medications that affect heart function in 2 hours.
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2. You should visit the toilet before the procedure.
3. Do not drink coffee, tea, drinks that can provoke an increase or decrease in blood pressure for 1 hour.
4. Refrain from smoking for 20-30 minutes.
5. If there was physical activity before the start of blood pressure measurement, then it is worth taking a break. 1.5-2 hours.

The main requirement for measuring blood pressure is to assume a comfortable posture.

The person should take a comfortable position, which is to relax the muscles. This means that before you measure your blood pressure, you need to sit on a chair or chair with a back. Lean back and try to relax.

You can imagine some nice picture or think of something soothing. In this case, the legs should not be crossed or one leg thrown over the other. Since in this position, you can pinch the arteries. This can significantly affect blood pressure readings.

Hands should not hang, but lie in a calm position at the level of the heart, on the table. Also, your hands should not be pinched by clothing. In this position, you need to sit for about 10 minutes in order for all the muscles to relax and the body was in a state of calm.

During this period of time, you should not talk, watch or listen to TV, make any movements, as this may affect the blood pressure readings. You can also measure blood pressure while lying down, observing all the same requirements.

In order for the blood pressure indicators to be true, first you need to determine whether it is on the right or left hand, to measure it. Initially, the pressure on both hands is measured, at least ten measurements. Break between measurements 2-4 minutes.

A break is given in order for blood circulation to return to normal. Indicators of measurements from the right and left hands are recorded separately, in columns. Then the indicators are analyzed. If, when analyzing the indicators from both hands, it can be seen that they are more on one, then it is worth measuring blood pressure on this hand.

Different indicators on both hands can be explained by the anatomical features of the heart. If the indicators show that the pressure on the right and left hand is almost the same, as a rule, the pressure is measured on the left hand in right-handers and vice versa.

The cuff is put on the hand, free from clothing. It should be about two centimeters above the bend of the elbow. Since the girth of the arm is not the same everywhere, then, as a rule, the cuff is tightened obliquely.

The cuff should be evenly tightened, should wrap around the entire arm and secured with Velcro. The tonometer needle must be at zero before starting the measurement. Since not everyone knows how to use a hand-held tonometer, many people buy electronic models for home use.

Automatic pressure measurement tonometer much more convenient, but it doesn't always give correct results.

If the house does not have a tonometer at all, you can measure the blood pressure by pulse. This method is used all over the world.

In order to learn how to correctly measure the pressure on the pulse on the arm, you must:

• have a stopwatch and clock;
• the ability to perform multiplication.

As you can see, the list is very meager and simple, let's start measuring.

To measure blood pressure by pulse, you need:

• take the correct posture on an armchair or chair (preferably at a table), which would be comfortable;
• put a watch next to you;
• before starting, you should calm down and relax;
• put the fingers of the right hand to the wrist of the left, and vice versa;
• count the beats in one minute.

Values ​​between 60-80 strokes. If the indicator is 60 or less, then the pressure is considered low, if it is higher 80 elevated. Just as when measuring pressure with a tonometer, you should measure the pressure on both hands. If there is a big difference in the measurements on the right and left hand, this may indicate disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system. If in doubt about the performance, you can repeat the procedure.

How to correctly measure blood pressure with an electronic tonometer

It is worth knowing how to correctly measure pressure with an electronic tonometer so that the device gives the most correct result.

The following simple requirements should be adhered to:

1. Smoking and performing quite intense physical exercises should be stopped half an hour - an hour before the measurement.
2. Do not consume strong coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks within 60 minutes.
3. Blood pressure should be measured only at rest.
4. You cannot talk and gesture.
5. In the electronic tonometer, you must check the power cord or battery power before use.
6. Wear the cuff only in accordance with the instructions supplied with the device.

The width of the cuff should match the width of the shoulder fold. Before starting the measurement, it must be checked and, if possible, made correct.

For the duration of the measurements, you need to sit comfortably on a chair or sofa with a vertical back, keep your legs straight. Crossed legs introduce a large error in the measurement of blood pressure.

It is not acceptable to measure pressure in a lying or standing position. The measurement is performed exclusively in a seated position. The hand on which the measuring cuff is placed must be absolutely free and motionless.

If you hold your hand on the weight during measurement, the device will show the wrong pressure. It is not allowed to hold your breath while taking measurements; breathing should be even and free.

Now let's talk about how to correctly measure pressure with an electronic tonometer worn on the shoulder.

When measuring blood pressure with this type of tonometer, you should adhere to the following instructions:

• First, take a comfortable sitting position of the body and correctly position the hand on which the measurements will be made. Remove her clothes completely. It is necessary to put on the cuffs strictly at the level where the heart is located.
• If the hand has not been completely free of clothing, care must be taken to ensure that the remaining clothing does not squeeze the shoulder too much.
• For correct measurement, the bottom layer of the cuff should be several tens of millimeters above the elbow. The cuff tube should be approximately mid-arm.
• The cuff must fit snugly against the arm, but not squeeze.

After completing these measures, it is necessary to start pumping air into the cuff. If the tonometer is a semiautomatic device, air injection is carried out manually. If automatic, the device draws air by itself after pressing the button.

If the pressure is measured with a wrist tonometer, the following instructions should be followed:

1. We install the cuff on the wrist as follows: the hand should be positioned so that the thumb looks up.
2. We bend the arm at the elbow joint until the cuff is at the level of the heart.
3. When measuring, we behave calmly and do not make sudden movements and do not talk to anyone.

For a more reliable measurement, measurements should be taken on each hand. If the difference is about 10 millimeters of mercury, this is quite acceptable and is considered a measurement error. At best, the pressure on both hands should be the same.

How to correctly measure pressure with a mechanical tonometer

Everyone should know how to correctly measure pressure with a mechanical tonometer, since this device shows the most accurate results.

Before measuring the pressure with a mechanical tonometer, the patient must be calm for at least 10 minutes (it is allowed to sit, lie down). A few hours before the procedure, do not consume alcohol, caffeinated drinks and strong medicines.

After the necessary preparation for the measurement, you should put on the cuff in the same way as for an automatic tonometer. That is, we fix the cuff at the level of the heart, place the lower edge on 3-4 centimeters above the elbow.

The stethoscope must be put on, and its measuring part must be positioned in the middle of the inner bend of the elbow.

At the time of deflation, you should especially carefully listen to the pulse:

1. We start inflating the cuff. It is necessary to pump up to 180-200 millimeters of mercury, if necessary, can be higher.
2. The air should be released slowly (up to 5 millimeters per second) and listen to the beats (pulse).

After you hear the first beat, this value corresponds to the systolic pressure (upper pressure). It is necessary to remember the readings of the tonometer. The last beat heard indicates the diastolic blood pressure (lower). For a more accurate statistical measurement of pressure, this procedure should be repeated. 3-5 times.

Knowing how to use an electronic or mechanical tonometer, you can check the pressure for any ailment and, if there is one, then take special medications that the doctor should prescribe.